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Paulita
How to Pronounce Paulita
Pronounced pow-LEE-tuh /paʊˈliːtə/Medium
Meaning: Paulita is a Spanish diminutive of Paula, the feminine of Paul. Paul comes from the Roman family name Paulus, meaning 'small' or 'humble', long cherished through Saint Paul the Apostle. The affectionate -ita ending makes Paulita 'little Paula', a tender, familiar form. So the name gently doubles its sense of smallness, carrying warmth and humility together with a saintly heritage.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Paulita is the affectionate 'little Paula', from Paula, the feminine of Paul, and the Latin Paulus, 'small' or 'humble'. The warm -ita ending is a classic Spanish diminutive. The name has long been a loving choice in Hispanic families, sometimes honouring a Paula among the elders, and it carries the gentle, modest sense of its root along with the heritage of Saint Paul.
In United States records Paulita was never common, drawing only a couple dozen girls a year even at its high around the nineteen-twenties, mostly among Hispanic families. A girl named Paulita then belongs to a great-grandmother's generation now. It reads as a tender old Spanish diminutive rather than a nursery favourite today, though its humble, saintly meaning keeps it graceful.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Paulita mean?
It is 'little Paula', from Paula and the Latin Paulus, 'small' or 'humble'.
How do you pronounce Paulita?
It's said pow-LEE-tuh /paʊˈliːtə/, three syllables, stress on the middle.
Is Paulita a boy or girl name?
Paulita is used as a girl's name.
Is Paulita a popular name?
No, it has always been rare in America, a Spanish diminutive used mostly by Hispanic families in earlier generations.